Gas-lighting apparatus.



H. H. McCOLLUM.

GAS LIGHTING APPARATUS.

APPLIQAHQN FILED ocT.19. |915.

1 ,v2 l 6,824. Patented Feb. 20, 1917.

4 SHEETS-SHEET l.

m kan@ H. H. MCCOLLUM.

GAS LIGHTING APPARATUS.

APPUcATmN FILED 0cT.19.1915.

l ,2 l 6,824. `Patented Feb. 20, 1917.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

H. H. MccoLLuM. l GAS LIGHTING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED 0CT.19, 19I5.

Patented Feb. 20, 1917.

. 4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

H. H. MCCOLLUIVI.

GAS LIGHTING APPARATUS.

APPUCAUONVFIL'ED ocr.19.1s|5.

1,216,824. Patented Feb'. 20,1917.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

MW@ T5] TE STATES GAS-LIGHTING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 2o, 1917'.

Application filed October 19, 1915. Serial No. 56,659.

To @l whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY H. MoCoLLUM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Crystal Lake, in the county of McHenry and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gas-Lighting Apparatus, of specification.

My invention relates to improvements in gas lighting apparatus and more particularly to a control by means of which gas burners may be lighted or extinguished from a remote point.

One of the objects of my invention is the provision of means for lighting and extinguishing gas burners positioned at inaccessible places, such for example, Vas in street lamp posts, lighting iixtures for churches, public halls, and other places having high ceilings where the burners must necessarily be placed for efficient lighting at points not readily accessible.

Another object of my invention is the 'provision of apparatus by means of which Va series of lamps may be lighted or extinguished from a single control point.

Other objects of my invention are the pro vision of apparatus which will be positive in its operation, simple and inexpensive to construct, and not liable to derangement.

Other and further objects will become apparent to those skilled in the art from a consideration of the following description and drawings, wherein Figure l is a vertical sectional view through the head of a street lamp showing my improved apparatus.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is-a horizontal line 3-3 of Fig. l.

Fig. 4L is a horizontal sectional view the line 4-4 of Fig. A1. p

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view on the broken line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a vertical fragmentary sectional view on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view on the line 7 7 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of a lamp post embodying -my invention with a portion of the` base broken away.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary side elevation of the pilot-light actuating valve, and;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary versectional view on the which the following is a tical sectional view through the pilot-light igniting burner.

In the particular?embodiment of my invention, one embodiment of Awhich is illustrated for the purpose of clear disclosure in the annexed drawings, the apparatus comprises in general a main gas valve for completely opening or completely closing connection between the gas main and the burners together with an auxiliary valve which feedsa pilot-light and maintains the same normally burning with a very small flame. In connection with these two valves I have provided an electro-magnetically actuated device on the operation of which the main valve is completely opened, assuming the valve to have been previously closed, and at the same time the pilot burner valve is opened wide throwing a jet of iiame across the top of the main burners and igniting them. The solenoids by means of which the valves are actuated are included in a circuit comprising a battery and switch, the latter being located'at any point convenient for operation. The same electrical circuit mayl actuate a plurality of burners, their solenoids being connected in parallel orotherwise.

The apparatus is so arranged that the initial movement of the solenoid vactuated parts opens wide the main burner gas valve and the opening' means of whichk an impulse of gas is permitted to flow to the pilot lamp producing a projection of Haine for igniting the main burners, takes place at vthe end or nearly'at the end of the movement of the solenoid actuated part. insures the proper iiow of gas into thie main burners before the lighting device kcomes into action, preventing back-firing.

Referring to the drawings wherein I have illustrated my invention as applied to a single'unit multiple burner gas lamp such as is used for street lighting, the'numeral 20 indicates the supporting post rising upwardly from a hollow base 2l and carrying at its top a head 22 on which theglobe 23 is detachably mounted. A gas pipe 24 extends upwardly through the post 20, vcarrying at its upper end a star shaped distributing header 25 at the ends of the six arms of which are mounted the burners 26. In the present instance these burners are shown as of the ordinary Welsbach type using incanof the pilot burner valve, byl

This arrangement bill receiving notches 4e.

head 22 a main O'as valve indicated in Oeneral by the numeral 29. rlhis valve. is supported by-thelarinsl29.andv comprises a casing 3() having screw threaded openings in its ends for connection in they main gas' pipe 24.'V

Near the center of the casing 30 is provided a transversely opening recess 31,"the'inner end of which is tapered to receive the tapered gas Vcontrolling valve This valve is of inush-roonishape having a projecting stem 33 byv means of which itis rotated. A poi-t 34 providesA 4communication between the chamber 31,'at the rear of the 'valve' and the gasv supply pipe 24 connected with the main. fj'poit 35communicates with the upperseotion of fthepipe 24 leading tothe burners and opens at its lowerV end to the tapered iii11ei" portion of the chanibe1"3l over which the valve head 32 contacts.v A series of four diametrically spaced ports 36 are provided inthe valve head 32 and adapted to open communication betw en the ports 34 and '35, when any one of the ports] 36 register with port 35. 'The valve.actuatingmechanism is so arlranged that on a lcomplete oscillation thereof the valve head 52' is rotated through lone eighth of a revolution, each movement being progressively in the same rdirection and alternately covering and uncovering the port 35, Abushing 36 is screw threaded into the mouth ofthe orifice 8l and carriesl arctat'ableshaf't 37 flanged at its inner end to overlie the inner end of the bushing and recessed toreceive the valve stem 38. Conf nection is made between the shaft 37' and the valve stem 33 by the slot and pin shown at 38. 'A coil spring 39' surrounds the valve stem 33 and has abutment at one end against the mushroom head of the valve and at the other end against the flanged out end ofthe shaft 87, thus insuring a tight lit between the valve and its seat.Y

T he valve actuating mechanism is supported on a framework carried on the outer end ofthe vbushing 36. This comprises a vertical 30st 4'0 secured 'to' the outerV end of the bushing '36 and a second post 4l parallel thereto andspaced away therefrom by means of thecross'pieces 4t2- 42. Screws 43 secure the postsv 40"-41 tothe crosspie'ces 42- 42 On theouter end of the shaft' 37 I have mounted aratc'het'wheel 44 having formedV aroundits periphery eight equi-distant pawl The electro-magnetica]ly 'actuated' 'oscilf latableA member.v `to which 'I have'pre'viously referred as furnishing I the motive power -f or actuation ofthevalves co'mprisesa'pair of hollow arcuate solenoidsV Y 4G-46 supported atl thein'upp'er'jendsupon the"`bracket 47 the main gas edY into the outer 'end far described will serveV to which projects from and isintegral with the Ypost 40. centena `pivot pin.. .49 vhas mounted on its A cross arm 48 carrying at its lower end 50a pair of arcuate iron cores V5l arranged to telescope within the solenoids. The outer end of the pivot pin 49 finds bear- ,ingin thepost 41 whereas its opposite end is journaled within a bushing 54 screivthreadof the stud shaft 3T. The outer end of the bushing54 is flanged to overlie the ratchet wheel 44 and isdianietrically slotted for engagement by a lscrew driver. QA counter-weight 52 is carried at the opposite end"of the arm, to partially counter-balance the' weight of the cores 51-' -5l Vand a coil spring 'surrounds the pivot pin 497, and hasv one end lived on the post 41 and the other end positioned to overlie the'ci'oss arm 4S to insure its return to normal position ou the dfceuergization of the solenoidsf A pawl '55 is pi votally connected with ille arm 4S for engagement with vthe 'teeth of the ratchet wheel 44. The oscillatory movement of the crossarm 48 is vlimited tosul stantially one eighth of a revolution, so that on eachoscillation the ratchet wheel and its connected valve ne'inber'is lmoved 'forward through an' arc of45 degrees.

To insure 'agr- 'nst 'retrogradel movement of the ratchetivheel and valvel have mounted upon the stationary arm 47,' a second pavvl A56 v for engagement'with the'notches in the ratchet wheel."

' Vlt will be obvious that lthe apparatus thus alternately open and 'close the 'main gas/'valve uponl oscillations of the magnetically actuated arm 48, ln orcler,'liowever', toinsure the proper lighting ofthe burners after the main valve is opened., I'have provided pilotlight with controlling valve which isautoniatically ac tuate'd subsequent tothe opening of the main valve. This portion of thel apparatus coinpri's'es a small burner" 57 mountedf at the Vcenter ofthe cluster of main vburners 26 and at a point elevated somewhat abovethe'tops of the 'chimneys 28. 'Surrounding the burner 57 is a cylindrical shield 5 8`p rovi ded holes" 59 through 'which'the'six Vjets from the pilot flame, issuing from vthe corresponding orificesv 60, spurtV wli'e'1f i the' pilot burner valve is opened projecting the jets of flame across the tops 'of thechimneys 28 and igniting the gas flowing through the burn- GTSQG. l, j, ,j

The supply pipe 61 for the pilot burner leads downwardly-fthrough valve lin dieated in general bythe numeral" 62'jand into casing'BO ata point beneath the valve 29 so ast'o'be constantly in communication with the main supply, irresp'e'ctiveofthe position 'occup'iedf by Vthe Y"vali'e' l29." The valve 62 is carried on a bracket '63 mounted at one side ofthe casing SO-and'comprises a' taper w ith plug 64: transversely drilled as at 65 to provide a gas passage. An arm 66 having oppositely extending wings 67 and 67 is carried on the outer end of the tapered plug 64. A pin 68 carried on the arm #i8 projectsinto the plane of the wing 67 so that vwhen the solenoid draws the rod 5l upwardly the pin 68 will engage with the wing 67 and swing the valve into open position. Its return to normal position is insured by the engagement of leaf spring 69 carried by the arm 66 with a pin 70 in the bracket 681 In order that the valve may be returned to a definite selected position by the spring 69 I have provided a set screw 7l which passes through the horizontal flange of the bracket 68 and engages the inturned end of the wing 67, thus limiting the closure of the valve to any desired extent. Normally the valve will be in a position as illustrated in F ig. 6 permitting always a slight iiow of gas through to the pilot burner. The flame is thus maintained at a very low point only sufficient gas being admitted to prevent its accidental extinguishment. The rapid opening of the pilot burner valve at or nearly at the end of the stroke of the magnetically actuated arm 48 insures a sudden rush of gas through and into the pilot burner causing spurts of flame to project across the tops of the chimneys 28 igniting the main burners. On the return of the arm a8 to its normal position under the action of the spring 58 the pilot burner valve will, of course7 be returned to its normal adjusted position by means of the leaf spring 69, insuring the cutting down of the flame within the pilot burner.

The electrical circuit which I have illustrated for the operation of my device is very simple, comprising the two wires 73 and 74 leading from solenoids 46, one being connected directly to one terminal of the battery cell 75 and the other leading to the other terminal of the battery cell 75 through the switch 76. Closure of the switch Ienergizes the solenoid andcauses the actuation of the valve either to light or extinguish the main burner depending upon its previous condition. Obviously other lamp lighting apparatus may be connected in circuit with the switch and battery and simultaneously actuated.

lVhereas I have illustrated and described the parts of this particular embodiment ofy my invention somewhat in detail7 it is `obvious that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claim.

Having described my invention, what I claim is:

An apparatus of the character described comprising a main valve casng; a gas supply pipe connected to the lower part thereof; a pipe connected to the upper part thereof; a star-shaped .casing connected to said upper pipe; a gas burner connected to cach arm of said star-shaped casing, each burner carrying a substantially transparent chimney; a pilot-light pipe`coimected to thc gas supply pipe below the main valve and extending upwardly between said chimneys a shield perforated for each burner carried by said pilot-light pipe; a pilot burner within the shield having an orifice for each main burner7 registering with Vthe perforations in the shield; a main valve in said main-valve casing; means for automatically opening the main valve and temporarily opening the pilot valve to increase'the flow of gas from the pilot burners to ignite the gas from the main burners above the chimneys and a spring to subsequently partially close said pilot valve after the main burners have been lighted.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

LYNN RICHARDS, ELTON HOFFMAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, .by' addressing the Commissioner of vPatents,

' Washington, D. C. 

